Annette MacLeod
Project Partner
Location
University of Glasgow, UK
Bio
Annette Macleod’s is a Professor in Host-Parasite Interactions & Pathogenesis at the University of Glasgow. Her research focuses on African trypanosomes which are single-celled parasites that cause significant disease in both humans and animals across sub-Saharan Africa. Her work looks at diseases caused by trypanosome parasites in both animals and humans, including sleeping sickness. These diseases have a serious impact across sub-Saharan Africa, affecting people’s health and reducing livestock productivity, which in turn leads to significant economic losses.
A key aspect of her research explores the evolutionary interactions between trypanosomes and human innate immunity, particularly the role of the APOL1 protein, which provides protection to most trypanosome species. However, certain subspecies have evolved mechanisms to evade this defence and infect humans. Importantly, variation in the APOL1 gene is also strongly associated with an increased risk of chronic kidney disease, linking evolutionary host–parasite biology to human kidney health.
Through her work Professor Macleod contributes to a One Health understanding of how pathogen evolution and human genetic variation intersect, with relevance for both infectious and kidney disease research.
